More than a year after Oak Harbor city crews felled a 330-year-old Garry oak, pieces of the ancient tree still sit behind the city’s municipal shop.

That’s where the tree will stay until city officials agree on a plan for what to do with the wood.

The public was asked for ideas and three are being mulled.

One idea is to turn the wood into a giant acorn or series of acorns. A ring count display would take a cross-section of the trunk and create an attractive display that shows what happened to the tree during its lifespan.

The final idea is to create a large table.

Details, including who would pay for these projects and where they would be displayed, are still being worked out, said city parks manager Hank Nydam.

A committee charged with making recommendations for the project suggested pieces could be displayed at Oak Harbor City Hall, the library, schools or other public buildings.

The city plans to buy a carport-like cover to go over the wood until it’s used, Nydam said. That should occur before the weather turns, he said.

Councilwoman Tara Hizon said she was initially concerned about the tree sitting in the weather — until she had a chance to chat with the city’s public works director.

“She reassured me that the wood was fine,” Hizon said. “It’s being closely watched and is in no danger of being damaged. She expressed that she understands the importance of caring for it and that it’s not being neglected.”

Jeff Daugherty, owner of Whidbey Woodworks and Custom Milling, serves on the committee. He owns a sawmill on Sleeper Road and works with reclaimed wood that’s transformed into art pieces and furniture.

It’s a good idea to get the wood out of the rain but even if it were left in its current state, it should be fine for a few years.

“As long as it’s off the ground it could stay like that for the next five years,” he said. “It’s not hurting it.”

In fact, it wouldn’t hurt if a little spalting developed — that’s coloration caused by fungi and it is a desirable trait in wood.

“Spalting makes certain woods more unique, especially our naive alder and maple,” he said.

In March 2014, city crews cut down the landmark oak outside the post office.

City officials said the tree was a safety concern but many residents were angry that no public notice was given and that the tree was felled on a Sunday morning.